Notorious (1946)

A government agent (Cary Grant) enlists the playgirl daughter (Ingrid Bergman) of a convicted Nazi traitor to work on behalf of the U.S. government. Her assignment is to seduce one of the leaders (Claude Rains) of a group of Nazis currently residing in Brazil. What the agent doesn't count on is that he, as well as Rains, will fall in love with her. This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most irresistibly entertaining films. If any of his films could be called flawless, this may be the one. The Oscar nominated screenplay by Ben Hecht is expert and has some of the best dialogue in a Hitchcock film. Hitchcock is also blessed by four superb central performances. Grant manages to subdue his charm somewhat in his portrayal of the cynical and sometimes cruel Devlin while Bergman glows in what may be her best film performance. Rains (also Oscar nominated) as the smitten Nazi and Leopoldine Konstantin as his sharp eyed mother contribute adroit performances also. The film contains two of Hitchcock's most memorable scenes: the extended kiss between Grant and Bergman and the great tracking shot from a high balcony to Bergman's hand. The score is by Roy Webb and Bergman's clothes by Edith Head. With Louis Calhern, Ivan Triesault, Wally Brown and Reinhold Schunzel.